Heroes and Citizenship
Senior 2 · English
Heroes and Citizenship
Lesson 2 of 4
22 min
On the last Saturday of every month, many Rwandans put down their usual work and join umuganda: they clear drains, build classrooms, plant trees or repair roads together. Nobody is paid. People take part because a country is only as strong as the citizens who look after it.
In this lesson you will read what citizenship means, learn the rights and duties of a citizen, and use the modal verb must to talk about duties and rules. You will finish by writing a paragraph about what makes a responsible citizen.
The first part of this text is adapted from the Simple English Wikipedia article Citizenship. The second part was written by Ganzaa.
Citizenship is a legal relationship between a person and a country. The citizen supports the country, and in return the country protects the citizen. Most people are citizens of the country where they were born, but a person can also apply to become a citizen of another country. This process is called naturalisation. Some countries allow a person to be a citizen of two countries at the same time; this is called dual citizenship. A person who is not a citizen of any country is called stateless. Wars, people fleeing their homes and births that were never registered can all leave people stateless, and it is a serious problem because a stateless person has no country to protect them.
Rights and duties. Citizens enjoy rights: things the law guarantees to them, such as the right to education, the right to be treated equally and, from the age of 18, the right to vote. They also have duties: things they are expected to do for the country. A responsible citizen obeys the law, pays taxes, votes, takes part in community work such as umuganda, protects the environment and public property, and refuses any talk that divides people. A citizen's rights and duties go together: the schools that give us the right to education are built and run with the taxes that other citizens pay.
Citizenship at school. You do not have to wait until you are 18 to be a responsible citizen. At school, it means arriving on time, keeping the compound clean, looking after desks and books, helping new students, and reporting bullying instead of watching it happen.
Words to know: legal = connected with the law; guarantee = promise firmly; register a birth = record a baby's birth officially with the local authorities.
What does a country give its citizens in return for their support?
Protection.
What is the difference between a right and a duty?
A right is something the law guarantees to you (for example education); a duty is something you are expected to do for the country (for example paying taxes or voting).
Why can an unregistered birth be dangerous later in life?
Without an official record, the person may not be able to prove citizenship, so they can end up stateless.
Read these school rules, written by the S2 class committee:
1. Students must arrive before 7.30 a.m.
2. Everyone must keep the classroom clean.
3. Students must not write on desks.
4. You must not use a phone during lessons.
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| must | it is necessary; a rule or a strong personal duty | Citizens must obey the law. |
| must not | it is forbidden; do not do it | You must not throw rubbish in the river. |
| don't have to | it is not necessary, but you may if you want | You don't have to be 18 to plant a tree. |
Be careful: must not and don't have to are very different. "You must not pay" means paying is forbidden. "You don't have to pay" means paying is not necessary.
Must has no past form. Use had to: Yesterday we had to sweep the compound because visitors were coming.
Turn this list of duties into sentences: obey the law ✔ / damage public property ✘ / register a baby's birth ✔
A responsible citizen must obey the law. He or she must not damage public property. Parents must register a baby's birth. (✔ becomes must, ✘ becomes must not, and each is followed by the base verb.)
Tip
Must is a bare modal. It never takes to, never takes -s, and has no past: use had to instead.
Exam trap: mustn't = forbidden; don't have to = not necessary.
Correct the mistake: Every citizen musts pay taxes.
Solution: Every citizen must pay taxes. Modals never add -s.
Choose must not or don't have to: Students ___ wear uniform on Saturday; it is optional. You ___ cheat in the exam.
Solution: don't have to (not necessary), must not (forbidden).
Put into the past: We must clean the market after umuganda.
Solution: We had to clean the market after umuganda.
Write one rule with must and one with must not for protecting Lake Kivu.
Possible answer: Fishermen must use nets with large holes so that young fish can escape. People must not throw plastic into the lake.
Write one paragraph of 100–120 words. Plan it like this: a topic sentence that answers the question; three supporting points, each with an example (use must and must not); a concluding sentence.
Model paragraph: A responsible citizen is a person who does not only enjoy rights but also carries out duties. First, a responsible citizen must obey the law, even when nobody is watching; for example, a driver must stop at a red light on an empty road. Second, citizens must take part in the life of their community. When my neighbours clear the drains during umuganda, everyone benefits in the rainy season. Third, a good citizen must not spread words that divide people, because unity is the foundation of peace. Young people can start at school by protecting property and helping new students. In short, a responsible citizen gives to the country as well as receiving from it. (113 words)
Remember
Sources and credits
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
